Liquid metering and distributing apparatus



20,1946. MQRGENQQTH 214M240 LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUSFiled Ma 3,1943 ,2 Sheets-Sheet i Aug. 20, 1946. I H.4M0RGENROTH LIQUIDMETERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1943 v.FJ I 1| I 4 F .K. I 6 V 1 7 a will/ll! 74-7 1 Patented Aug. 20, 1946UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID METERING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUSThis invention relates to liquid metering and distributing apparatus,and an object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this type,which is capable of supplying equal quantities of liquid to-a pluralityof points of consumption, for example, the injectors of internalcombustion engines, while providing means for regulating at will, thequantity of liquid distributed to each point of consumption, orinjection nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kind,which is simple and compact in construction, but which is capable ofserving a considerable number of points of consumption for the liquid,and at the same time, providing simple means for enabling adjustments tobe made at will, for regulating the quantity of liquid that is passed toeach point of consumption while insuring that these quantities will bemaintained equal at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary part or rotorwith a plurality of metering chambers, and mounted in a fixed casing orstator, means being provided for effecting the simultaneous regulationof the capacity of the metering chambers, while providing for thedistribution of the equal charges from the metering chambers to aplurality ofpoints, of consumption such as the injection nozzles of aninternal combustion engine.

In its preferred embodiment, this invention employs a plurality ofmetering chambers with which cooperate movable means for efiecting thefilling and discharge of the metering chambers at a rapid rate; and oneof the objects of the invention is to provide simple means for housingthese metering chambers in such a way as to utilize the pressure of theliquid under pressure, which is being distributed, to assist the fillingand discharge of the metering chambers; also to construct the apparatuswith simple means for ell'ecting the regulation simultaneously of thecapacity of the metering chambers.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in combination of parts to be describedhereinafter, all of which. contribute to produce an efiicient liquidmetering and distributing apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a device embodying my invention,certain parts being broken the novel parts and away and others shown inpartial elevation. This view illustrates a simple embodiment of theinvention in which only two metering chambers are employed which arelocated in axial alignment with each other on the axis of rotation ofthe rotor in which they are formed.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l, but illustrating another embodimentof the invention in which a plurality, such as four metering chambers,are employed, grouped around the axis of rotation in coaxial pairs.Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the same means and relation of parts forenabling simultaneous regulation of the capacity of the meteringchambers to be efiected.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on the line 2-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is also a vertical section through a device embodying myinvention, in which a plurality of metering chambers are employed, theindividuals of which are disposed out of line with the axis of rotationof the rotor in which the metering chambers are formed. This Viewillustrates another means for controlling the capacity of the meteringchambers.

Fig. 6 is also a vertical section illustrating an embodiment of myinvention which resembles Fig. 1, in that two metering chambers areemployed in the rotor in axial alignment with each other; but in theembodiment shown in Fig. 6, the capacity of the metering chambers iscontrolled by eliecting a longitudinal shifting movement of both therotor and a stop that controls the amount of movement of the movablemembers or plungers associated with the metering chambers.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, itshould be stated that in the following specification I have disclosedseveral different means for eiieoting the simultaneous control ofcapacity of all of the metering chambers. In Figs. 1 and 2 I employ theexpedient of forming the rotor in separated sections which are rotatedin unison, the adjacent ends of the rotor sections being provided withthe measuring chambers cooperating with the movable means, for example,plungers are provided which move to and fro in their respectivemeasuring chambers, the movement of each plunger in filling its meteringchamber, operating to effect the return of its abutting plunger. Theeffective capacity of the measuring chambers is controlled by regulatingthe distance between the two rotor sections.

Although this is preferably accomplished by maintaining one of the rotorsections to rotate in a fixed plane, and shifting the other rotorsection toward or from it, it is evident that this effect can beaccomplished by a relative axial movement of the rotor and a stopassociated with the rotor for limiting the movement of the plungers intheir metering chambers. This is illustrated in Fig. 6.

The invention may be practiced, however, without necessitating the useof two separate sections for the rotor, but providing a plurality of metering chambers in the rotor, with common means for limiting themovement of their plungers. This is illustrated in Fig. 5.

is being employed to feed liquid fuel to in- '"ternal combustion enginesuch as a Diesel, semi-- Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,-inpracticing the invention I provide a .rotor Lwhichjs.

preferably composed of two rotor sections to and lb that are coaxialwith each other an mounted for simultaneous rotation in a stator 2. Inother words, the rotor is mounted for rotation in a bore 3 that extendsinto the stator'from its upper end, the rotor section lb being supportedat its lower end on an annular shoulder 4 at the lower end of the bore3. The rotor sections are rotated simultaneously, and are maintained sothat they always have the same oriented position with respect to eachother. This is preferably accomplished by providing .adriving couplingconnection 5 at the lower end of the section lb, and by providing asliding driving connection between. the adjacent ends of the Diesel, orgasoline engine, the rotor would be driven 'in'synchronism with theengine shaft so as to supply the fuel in metered or measured quantitiesto the cylinders in rotation. The derotor sections, involving the use ofone or more stems or bars-6 fixed inone of the rotor sections. with theouter end of each bar mounted to slide in a small socket 1 into whichthe bar 5 makes an accurate sliding fit. 1

Movable means preferably consisting of plunger means, is provided foreffecting-the fill ing and discharge of two metering chambers S and 8which are formed as bores-extending into the adjacentends of the'rotorsections, and'in' the present instance, these bores are located on theaxis of the rotor. The movable means employed for effecting the fillingand discharge of r the metering chambers preferably consists-of twoplungers l0 and ii mounted respectively in the metering chambers. Theadjacent ends-oi these plungers abut against each other, and-in theoperation of the device afilling' of'one of the metering chambersadvances its plunger and causes-it to return the opposite plunger. Inorder to accomplish this a plurality of 'ports'a-re provided inthestator and rotor, which cooper ate to admit the liquid alternately tothe two metering chambers. In the present instance, I provide a pipeconnection l2 through which the supply of liquid'is admitted underpressure to a longitudinally disposed passage 93 in the'stato'r thatcommunicates at its ends with two inlet channels or grooves 14 and I5that pass circumferentially around the outer side of the stator whichis, or" course, of cylindrical form. These inlet grooves or fuel ringsare preferably formed by cutting into the wall to form the groove, andthen covering each groove with a tight sealing band it. The meteringchambers are provided with admission port's}? audit respectively, whichextend radially :in ther'otor, and which are located in the same planeas the inlet rings or grooves l4 and i5; and'in addition to this, themetering. chambers are provided with outlet ports is and 20respectively, which, in the present instance, are L-shaped, having innerportions coaxial with their corresponding vice' includes means forregulating the effective capacity of themetering chambers t and and thisis preferably accom i hed by providing control means for regulati g thedistance between theltwo sections of he rotor. In other words, inaccordance with my invention the two roller sections are made relativelymovable. to each other. In the present instance, I eiiect the regulationof the eifective capacity of themetering chambers by shifting one ofthese rotor sections toward or from the other, but itis obvious ofcourse, that if desired, both of the rotor sections could be madeactually movable. In the present instance I provide for shifting theupper rotor section la by providing a slip collar or a swivel collar 23engaginga reduced neck as on the upper end of the rotor section in.This-swivel collar .23 may, .if desired, be of U-shape withdiametrically opposite .forks that slide under the enlarged head '25beyondthe 2d. This swivel collar 23 is preferably provided with pins 25respectively, mounted in its forks and which are pivotally attached tothe oppositely disposed forks of Va control lever 27. This lever may becontrolledby a link 23 connected to operating lever (not illustrated)preferably associated with a quadrant 'for holding it in any desiredposition. If desired, instead of having a single pair of cooperatinginlet and outlet .ports such as the ports Mia, and I52); correspondingto each of the metering chambers, I may provide a plurality of pairs ofsuch ports, locating each outlet port 60 or any other number of degreesaccording to'the number of injection nozzles to be fed from thecorresponding inlet port.

In the present instance, the plungers it] and H are provided withprojecting heads 29 which would limit the'return movement of theplungers. These heads would also operate as valve seats. Instead ofthese heads, mere stops, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or valve rests asshown inF i'g. 2, may be used.

: In Figs. 2 to i I illustrate another-embodiment of the invention inwhich I employ --a plurality of metering chambers indicated generally bythe the metering chambers symmetricallyaround the 7 axis of rotationof'the rotor, and while I have illustrated in these Figs. 2 we, only"two'such oppositely" located pairs of metering chambers'it willbe-obvious that if desired, three or :fourr-such pairs of cylinders, ora greater number may be employed as desired. This type of constructionis particularly adapted for supplying liquid fuel to an engine having aconsiderable number of cylinders.

The rotor 3! is composed of two relatively movable sections 3 la and31b, and as in the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, I prefer tocontrol the efiective capacity of the metering chambers by shifting theupper rotor section 3| 0, up or down. In the present instance, I providea multiple spline connection 32' for enabling the two rotor sections tobe rotated in unison through a suitable coupling connection 33 thatdrives the lower rotor section 3"). In the present instance, theplungers abut directly against each other at their adjacent ends, ndthese. plungers are illustrated as devoid of the heads 29 employed inFig. 1. The port arrangement for admitting and exhausting the liquidunder pressure from the metering chambers, somewhat resembles thatillustrated in Fig. 1, and operates in such a way as to connect up oneof the aligned metering chambers for admission of the liquid, while theother is connected up for exhaust so that when one of the plungersadvances, it expels the metered liquid from the aligned and opposedmetering chamber.

In the present instance, the metering chamber 30a has a coaxial port orpassage 34a, and corresponding ports 34b, 34c, and 34d, are provided forthe other metering chambers. These ports 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d, ifdesired, may be provided with conical counterbores 35, and the adjacentends of the plungers made conical so as to enable the plungers tooperate as valves when they come against these conical seats 35. Thiswill reduce leakage past the plungers.

Referring to Fig. 4, the passages 34c and 34a are supplied with liquidunder pressure from an inlet ring 36 supplied by an inlet connection 31.The stator 38 is formed with a plurality of radial inlet ports 39 whichare located at the level of the upper end of the passage 340. Thispassage 340 has a lateral extension at its upper end that connects upthis port to the ports 39 in succession as the rotor rotates. Inaddition to this, the stator is provided with a plurality of exhaustports corresponding to the inlet ports 39. These ports are indicated inFig. 4. connected up to outlet exhaust connections til, and these outletconnections it] with their corresponding outlet ports, are locatedmidway between the inlet ports 39. The port 340 has a lateral exhaustport 4| which is in line with all of the exhaust connections 40.

The result of this is that when one of the plungers 42 is advanced inits filling stroke as indicated at the right in Fig. 2, it returns itscorresponding plunger to expel the liquid in its corresponding meteringchamber, it being understood that th port arrangement described above,is duplicated at the lower end of the device illustrated in Fig. 2. Inthe position illustrated in Fig. 2, the liquid under pressure has filledthe metering chamber 390 and has expelledupon completing its stroke ofexpulsion all the liquid in the metering chamber 30d through the port3411. This liquid is expelled from the port 34d in the mannerindicatedin the upper portion of Fig. 2, where the upper end of the port34a is indicated as registering with an outlet connection.43. Theseoutlet connections 43 are located directly over the outlet connections40 already described. And when the rotor rotates through 30 from theposition in which it is shown in'Fig. 2, the port 4| .will register withone of the exhaust ports 40 and enable the liquid in the meteringchamber 300 to exhaust through the exhaust connection 43. Thearrangement of ports described is illustrated also in Fig. 3.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the confronting endsof the rotors define with the bore of the casing a chamber which ismaintained at atmospheric pressure or a nominal pressure below that inthe supply line so that any seepage around the plungers may be bled ordrained away.

The effective capacity of the metering chambers is controlled by meansof a control lever 3le mounted and arranged similarly to thecorresponding lever 21 illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which I providea plurality of plungers 44 that operate in metering chambers 45 thatextend into the upper end of a rotor 45. The upper end of thesep-lungers move into a pres sure chamber 41 formed in the upper end ofthe stator 48. The pressure in this pressure chamber is utilized toreturn the plungers and expel the metered liquid from their meteringchambers. In this view 49 indicates the inlet connection, and pipeconnections 50 are provided for admitting and releasing the liquid underpressure from the pressure chamber 47. Associated with these connections50, I provide means for maintainin a pressure in the pressure chamberslightly below the operating pressure of the liquid that is admitedthrough the connection 45 to the inlet ring 5|. The port arrangement foradmitting the liquid to the two metering chambers i5, is substantiallythe same as that illustrated in Fig. 2, that is to say, each meteringchamber is served by a port 52, one part of which is in alignment withthe inlet ring 5!, and another part of which is in alignment withexhaust con nections such as the exhaust connection 53. In other words,as the rotor rotates in the stator '54, the liquid is alternatelyadmitted and discharged from the metering chambers. The return of eachplunger is effected through the agency of the pressure existing in thepressure chamber 41. Any suitable means may be provided for maintainingthis pressure sli htly reduced below the operating pressure. This couldbe accomplished by providin a relief valve in the outlet connection fromthe pressure chamber opening at a slightly lower pressure than theadmission pressure for the liquid in the connection 49. In the presentinstance, however, I have illustrated a restricted, or choking, port inthe connection for admitting liquid into the chamber from the connection49, and a similar choking port, or restricted port 56, in the outletfrom the chamber.

In the present instance, the capacity of the metering chamber 45 isregulated by a common stop-head or stop disc 5'5 disposed over all ofthe plungers and in their path, so as to operate as a stop for them.This stop disc 57 can be adjusted up or down at will at all times bymeans of its supportin screw 58 which is guided through an unthreadedopening in the upper head 53 of the stator. A worm wheel having athreaded huh turning on the upper end of this screw, can be rotated byits worm 55a to effect the adjustment.

The rotor is rotated in synchronism with the engine shaft, through theagency of a gear wheel or pinion 6! that extends down from the lower endof the rotor. I

In Fig. 6 I illustrate an embodiment of the in- '7 vention in which therotor G2 is made in one piece, and provided with two coaxial meteringchambers 63 and $4, with a partition or dividing wall 55 between them.The rotor is rotated at its lower end by means of the continuouslydriven gear wheel or pinion 56 which is supported in a fixed position ona shoulder El projecting under the same from the lower side of a gear 58that drives this pinion, The pinion 68 is actually formed at the lowerend of a plug-form stop 69 which has a pin-and-sbt driving connectioniii to the rotor E2. The upper end of the plug (it is formed with areduced tip ll upon which the lower plunger i2 rests at the bottom ofits stroke, the said plunger reciprocating in the lower metering chamberwhile a similar plunger i3 reciprocates in the upper metering chamber,and the upward movement of' this upper plunger is stopped by which isprovided with a reduced tip "i5 against which the upper plunger impingesat'the end of its up stroke. I provide means forshiitingthe v plug itand the rotor axially with respect to each other. This may beaccomplished. by'a mechanism which produces a differential movementbetween these two partswhen the sameis operated. In the presentinstance, this mechanism includes a lever it pivotally mounted on afixed fulcrum 'i'r? and provided with two connecting rods or links i8and "is, the former of which is connected to a swivel ring or collar 36fitting on a reduced neck on the upper end of the rotor; and the latterof which is connected by a pivotal connection to upper end of the plug14.

The links 73 and it may, if desired, be mounted so that they inclineinopposite directions. The link i9 is attached on the lever it at afurther distance'from the fulcrum ll of the lever, so that the motionimparted to the plug M will be greater than that imparted to the rotor.This differential movement will result in a change in the eiiectivecapacity of the metering chambers 63 and 5d.

Any suitable means may be provided for admitting the liquid underpressure and exhausting the same from the metering chambers. The twoplungers 69 and 13, however, operate independently of each other except,of course, as

to the timing of the moments of filling and discharging the liquid from'the two chambers. For this purpose the stator 82 is provided with aninlet ring 83 that extends around the outer surface of the stator, andthe rotor is provided with a radial inclined admission port 84 whichperiodically in its rotation, registers with a radial inlet port 85 inthe wall of the stator leading in from the ring 83. This would admitliquid to one side of the plunger 13 and force it upwardly to expel theliquid in the chamber as above this plunger. This liquid would exhaustthrough a radial exhaust port 86 in the rotor, registering with anexhaust port 81 with a suitable exhaust pipe connection. The plunger 13is returned in its downward movement, by a second inclined port 88similar to the port 84 but serving the upper end of the metering chamber63, and this port supplies liquid 'to the upper end of the chamberWhen-its outer end registers with the port 85, or any one of theplurality of such ports disposed around the circumference of the,stator. The port arrangement for the lower end of the device forcontrolling the plunger 7 2, is the same a movable plug it, the lowerend of j will not be described in detail, although the same isillustrated in the drawings. In other words, the lower end of the statoris provided with an inlet groove or ring 89, and the stator has an inletport 90 which is inclined,'the outer end of which may register with aradial inlet port such as the port 9!, to admit the liquid to the lowerend of the chamber 64. However, in Fig. 6 the rotor is, shown in anoriented position in which the inclined admission port 92 is in its openposition as it would be in admitting liquid to the upper end of thechamberli l; and the plunger liwisindicated in its lowest position, atwhich time the liquid below it would be expelling or exhausting throughthe registering exhaust ports 93 .and 94 formed respectively, in therotor and the stator. Any other angular relation between the ports. ofthe plurality of metering chambers is possible in practicing myinvention.

.Inpracticeythe end of the lever I5 will be connected to a link 95,which would be con-.

trolled by means of an operating lever and quadrant (not illustrated)Many other embodiments of the invention maybe resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. 7

What I claim is: e

1. In a liquid metering and distributing device, the combination of astator, a rotor rotatably mounted therein'and having a plurality ofmetering chambers therein, movable means associated with the meteringchambers, capable of moving in one direction during the filling movementof the metering chamber and in, the other direction during itsdischarging movement, said stator and said rotor having portscooperating as the rotor rotates, to admit the liquid under pressure tosaid metering chambers, to advance said movable means and fill themetering chambers to their effective capacity, means for effecting thereturn of the movacle means, and means for adjustably controlling theeffective capacity of the metering chambers said rotor being composed oftwo separate sections movement, and said adjustable controlling meansbeing constructed so that it can operate while, the-rotor is rotating toeffect relative axial movement of the two sections of the rotor foraltering the effective capacity of the metering chambers.

2..In a liquid metering and distributing de gaging its correspondingaligning plunger in the other section of therotor, said stator and saidrotor having ports cooperatingduring the rotation of the rotor to admitthe liquidunder pressure alternatelyto'the remote ends of each pairof'metering' chambers to advance their plungers and fill the meteringchambers, to

their efiective capacities, each plunger as it is advanced, operating toengage its correspondas that described in connection with the oper-,

ation of the upper plunger. 13, and'therefore ing aligned plunger togive the sameits return stroke and expel the liquid from itscorresponding metering chamber, means'for eifecting the rotation of saidrotor, sections in unison, and means for shifting the sections of saidrotor relatively ,toeach other to vary the capacity of thesaid'me'tering chambers; said stator and capable of relative axial' 9said rotor having cooperating exhaust ports for leading 01f the liquidas it is discharged from the said metering chambers.

3. A liquid metering and distributing device constructed as defined inclaim 2, in which one of the said rotor sections is maintained to rotatein a fixed plane, and means is associated with the other rotor sectionfor moving the same toward or from the other rotor section.

4. In a liquid metering and distributing device, the combination of astator having a bore therein, a rotor rotatably mounted in the said boreand having two relatively movable sections with opposed aligning boresextending into the same from their adjacent ends, a plunger located ineach of said bores, each of said plungers capable of engaging theadjacent end of its opposite plunger, means for effecting the rotationof both sections of the rotor in unison with each other, said stator andsaid rotor having ports cooperatin during rotation of the rotor to admitthe liquid under pressure alternately to the remote end of each meteringbore to advance its plunger in its filling movement, and cooperating inthe discharging movement to enable each plunger to push its alignedplunger to expel the liquid before it, said rotor and stator havingcooperating ports for leading off the liquid being discharged from therotor; and means for shifting the sections of said rotor relatively toeach other to vary the capacity of the said metering bores.

5. A liquid metering and distributing device comprising: a casingdefining a bore, at least one delivery passage and a plurality ofdischarge passages, the delivery passages being in communication with asource of fuel under pressure; a rotor mounted in said boreand defininga plurality of axially directed sockets at one end of said rotor, andindividual passages leading from said sockets to the periphery of saidrotor, each for successive communication with at least one deliverypassage and discharge passage as said rotor is rotated in saidcasing; afloating plunger reciprocable in each of said sockets; said plungersurged in a direction to expand said metering sockets when said socketsare in communication a with said delivery passage; and means operable byfuel supplied from said source and effective when said metering socketsare in communication with said discharge passages for contracting saidmetering sockets; and means for varying in unison the efiective strokesof said plungers.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein the fuel passages insaid rotor intersect the axially inner ends of said sockets and formtherewith valve seats; and said plungers are provided ets and saidgroups of 10 with valve elements adapted to coaot with said valve seats.

7. A liquid metering and distributing device comprising: a casingdefining a cylindrical bore and also defining two axially spaced groupsof passages intersecting said bore, each group including at least onedelivery passage and a plurality of discharge passages; a pair of rotorsmounted in said bore and connected for rotation in unison therein, andadapted to be moved axially to and from each other; said rotors havingat least one pair of confronting sockets therein and passagescommunicating between said sockpassages in said casing, and a, floatingplunger unit fitting each pair of sockets and each plunger unit definingwith its sockets a pair of opposed metering chambers; and means formoving said rotors to and from each other to regulate the effectivevolumes of said metering chambers.

8. A liquid metering and distributing device comprising: a casing havinga bore therein; a pair of rotors in said bore arranged end toend andcapable of limited relative axial movement to vary their axial spacing;said rotors having at least a pair of aligned sockets in theirconfronting ends; floating plunger units fitting said sockets anddefining therewith a pair of metering chambers; said casing and eachrotor defining fuel ports cooperating during rotation to alternatelyadmit liquid to and discharge liquid from said metering chambers; andmeansfor adjusting the axial spacing of said rotors thereby to regulatethe effective capacities of said metering chambers.

9. A construction as set forth in claim 8, wherein the fuel ports insaid rotors intersect the axially inner ends of said sockets and formtherewith valve seats; and said plunger units are provided with valveelements adapted to coaot with said valve seats.

10. A construction as set forth in claim 8, wherein the confronting endsof said rotors define a drain chamber,

11. A liquid measuring and distributing device comprising: a sectionalrotor having axially spaced sections capable of limited relative axialmovement to vary their spacing and defining at least one pair of alignedsockets in their confronting ends; fioating plungers reciprocable insaid sockets and forming therewith metering chambers; a casing for saidrotor sections; said casing and rotors defining coacting ports formoving fuel to and from said metering chambers; and means for varyingthe axial spacing of said rotor section thereby varying the effectivecapacity of said metering chambers.

HENRI MORGENROTH.

